For the first 3 1/2 rounds of golf’s PGA Championship at Charlotte, North Carolina’s Quail Hollow Country Club, it looked like the leading groups were all playing not to lose the Wannamaker Trophy. By the final nine, though, 24-year old Justin Thomas put his foot on the pedal with three birdies, passed several challengers, avoided trouble by getting some lucky breaks, and crossed the finish line at 8-under par as the winner on Sunday afternoon.
As third round leader Kevin Kisner and playing partner, Chris Stroud, kept making pars on the front nine, the rest of the field also failed to make any significant moves as the front nine yielded few birdies. By hole number 9, though, the excitement had just started for Justin Thomas. He drained a 50-foot birdie on the ninth and headed to the back nine with some momentum.
On the par-4 10th hole, most people will undoubtedly remember Justin Thomas’ incredibly fortunate “10+ seconds-before-the-ball-fell-in” putt for his second straight birdie. However, the bigger break came on his tee shot. Thomas hooked his drive badly into the trees along the left side, but, somehow, the ball hit solid wood and bounced about 20 yards (and over a sand trap) back into the middle of the fairway. From there, Thomas hit his third shot on the par-5 hole about 9 feet past the hole, and then had his birdie putt hang on the left edge of the cup for several seconds before finally falling in. No doubt about it. Justin Thomas owes that tree on #10 a debt of gratitude.
Over the final nine holes, the race to the finish at the PGA Championship resembled an exciting final few laps of a stock car race at the nearby Charlotte Motor Speedway. Ricky Fowler birdied four holes in a row on the back nine and posted a 5-under par lead into the clubhouse. Then, America’s Ryder Cup hero, Patrick Reed, caught fire on the back nine and was 7-under par heading into the final hole. However, an untimely bogey on #18 damaged his chances to win but put him in the clubhouse lead at -6. Italy’s Francesco Molinari also had his chance to put a -7 on the board, but he also bogeyed the 18th to finish at 6-under par.
Japan’s young golf sensation, Hideki Matsuyama, held the lead for a few holes in the middle of the final round, but he faltered down the stretch to finish at -5. Kevin Kisner came back to life for a few holes on the back nine and was within two shots heading into #18. However, a ball into the water on his second shot on the final hole sunk his chances as he dropped to -4.
In the end, Justin Thomas was the only golfer to shoot in the 60’s for the final three rounds. He hit enough fairways and greens, made some key putts, and kept his emotions under control. After the victory, his pals Jordan Spieth and Ricky Fowler were there to congratulate him on his first major win. The lone member of golf’s new “Three Amigos” without a major championship, Ricky Fowler finished in the top five and the crowds really responded to his late rally. His time will come.
For this Sunday, though, it was Justin Thomas who put it all together, defeated a small army of competitors, and became a worthy first-time major champion. Well done!